ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan College men's cross country team will open its season at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 on Houghton University's Highlander Short Course.
The Redhawks won their seventh consecutive East Coast Conference championship last season and will have several runners stepping into larger roles this season.
"This group is essentially a bunch of young guys that have their first chance to lead the program," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
Andrew Dorr said. "They have been developing in the background – no one on the team has had a chance for being in our top three in the past – and this season is their first opportunity to do that."
Here are five things to know about the Redhawks:
HIGH EXPECTATIONS REMAIN
Roberts has dominated the ECC for most of the last decade and even though several leaders from last year's squad, including ECC Runner of the Year
James Betts, have moved on the Redhawks were still a unanimous choice to finish first in the ECC Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Redhawks return four runners –
Owen White,
Blake Kasper,
Jackson Doran and
Ryan Karker – who finished in the top 11 at last year's ECC meet. White, who was named ECC Rookie of the Year, and Kasper were First-Team All-Conference selections while Doran and Karker were Second-Team All-ECC.
PRESEAON HONORS FOR KASPER
Kasper, a junior from Orchard Park, made a strong enough impression in his conference debut and at the East Regionals, where he finished 28
th to lead Roberts' returning runners, that he was voted ECC Preseason Runner of the Year in the Coaches' Poll.
"I have put in a lot of hard work," Kasper said. "Cross country is one of those sports where you don't really get much of a break from training and you need to put in the work. I definitely feel like I have grown in terms of my fitness and strength."
OPPORTUNITIES TO EMERGE
Kasper and White are not the only runners positioned to emerge.
Karker, who was the ECC Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, is a standout in the middle distances and track and field and brings big race experience into his senior season. Junior
Evan Davis may also be poised to break through.
Sophomores Doran,
Zachary Hall and
Hunter Moore have a year in the programs under their belts which is a benefit both physically and mentally.
"The younger guys are in a position where that if they put in the time and do the work that they will be in a position to fill in the gap," Dorr said.
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
Roberts strives for continuous improvement throughout the season and race strategy is dictated by the overall plan.
The Redhawks typically use their first two meets, including the Harry F. Anderson Invitational during Homecoming Weekend on Sept. 24, to take inventory of their fitness level while building for the second half of the season.
Look for Roberts to go all out at the Live In Lou Classic on Oct. 1 and the Go_Fast River Run at Lock Haven University as the team prepares for the ECC Championships on Nov. 5 at Roberts.
"Louisville is still a focused meet and Lock Haven will also be a time to go after it a little bit," Dorr said.
FOLLOWING A FORMULA
The distance running program at Roberts has been built on consistent development and athletes taking on larger roles as they grow and mature.
Expect more of the same this fall as the Redhawks prepare themselves for another potential ECC title run.
"Our approach to this year is going to be repetition," Dorr said. "Repetition to sticking to a plan and cycling through the training that we know that we need. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition."
